"You still have a fever." Concluded Mustang, feeling the blonde boys' forehead.

"I know," moaned Ed, as shiver running up through his body, "And I feel almost as bad as I did yesterday."

Roy furrowed his brow. Ed was really sick. He thought the boy was getting better when he woke up yesterday and drank that sip of water. He was wrong. Ed had woken up in the middle of the night, waking Roy up almost in a panic. He felt really sick but he couldn't get up. Roy had quickly helped him to the downstairs bathroom and that's where they had stayed for about an hour, Ed over the toilet and Roy holding back his bangs. When he finally got back to the couch, it was around three in the morning. He had slept for a few more hours, but the peace hadn't lasted long. Ed woke Roy up a second time complaining of his stomach.

Hoping Ed wouldn't actually get sick again, Roy had just brought him a bowl from the kitchen. He had Ed sit up and Roy say beside him for about ten minutes. Ed took deep breaths and tried to calm his stomach, but unfortunately it hadn't worked. Ed had been up and down all night, in both fever and trips to the bathroom.

Ed moaned again, clutching his stomach. "Ugh, this sucks."

Roy nodded and walked into the kitchen taking the telephone off its receiver. "Yep, well it looks like you may be here a little bit longer than you had planned."

"What are your doing?" asked Ed, attempting to lift himself up on his elbows.

"Just making a call to headquarters," said Roy, "There's no way you can be here alone like this."

Ed nodded, to tired to fight with him, and plopped his head back down on the pillow. In a few minutes Roy came back into the living room holding a cool cloth for Ed's forehead.

"What'd you say?" asked Ed, allowing Roy to put the cloth on his forehead.

"Well, I got a hold of Lieutenant Hawkeye. I told her I wasn't coming in because you were still sick. She understood and said she is going to come by later after work and check on you."

Ed's face grew slightly angry. "You told her I was sick? What if she tells Al?"

"Ed, Riza knew you were sick before I did. She figured it out when you two were driving. Hit your head? Ed you couldn't come up with a better reason?" Roy said, smirking.

Ed pouted, his anger diminished. "Hey, be nice. I'm sick."

"Yeah, I know." Said Roy, walking over to his desk. "I'm going to try to get some work done so why don't you try to do to sleep."

Ed nodded and rolled onto his side. He slept for a little while, but it didn't take long for his stomach to wake him. Ed rolled over with a loud groan followed by several coughs. Roy looked over at him.

"You alright?" he asked.

"I dunno . . . my stomachs hurting again." Said Ed, not wanting to open his eyes.

"Are you going to be sick?" asked Roy, already standing up and grabbing the bowl from the coffee table.

"I don't know." Repeated Ed again, growing frustrated with constantly feeling this way.

"Alright, well the bowls right here if you need it." Roy placed the bowl next to Ed and gave him a gentle pat on the leg before going back to his desk. Ed tried to stay calm. He tried his best to relax himself. He listened to the grandfather clock in Roy's hallway tick and Roy's pen scratch down inky words onto the paper. He tried to focus best he could on the sounds; unfortunately, he opened his eyes and began watching the pendulum in the glass case of the Grandfather clock. Swing back. And forth. Back. And forth. Back. And forth.

Ed moaned again, his stomach churning and sloshing with the time of the clock. Ed laid flat and buried his face in the pillow. He could feel the queasiness in his stomach grow worse and worse. He felt his mouth go dry as his stomach lurched. Warm bile crept up his throat, but he swallowed quickly. Ed tried to use his shaky arms to push himself into a sitting position. He braced his hands on his knees.

"Roy, I think I'm-"

But he didn't finish his sentence. His stomach gave a violent heave and he doubled over. He placed his hand over his mouth, the only thing he could do to try and stop the vomit from getting all over the couch. He felt something slick and warm in his hand trying to escape, so he placed his other hand over it and squeezed his eyes shut.

Roy looked over in time to see Ed lurch again still cupping his face. Roy leapt from his chair and knelt beside Ed, grabbing the bowl from the ground.

"Alright, it's alright. It's right here. Calm down Ed, it's alright."

Roy placed a hand on Eds back, holding the bowl with his other hand. Ed still wouldn't take his hands off his mouth. Roy placed a hand on his arm.

"Ed, hey. Open your eyes. It's right here."

Ed opened his eyes and grabbed at the bowl just as his stomach contracted. It felt like his stomach was trying to wring itself out completely and that if he wasn't careful he would lost his stomach too, and not just its contents. Roy gently rubbed circles in the young boys back, trying his best to calm him. It seemed to be working. Slowly, Ed began to calm down. He gagged a few more times before finally stopping. Roy took the cool cloth from the side of the couch and wiped Ed's hands and mouth, apparently it felt good because Ed sighed and his face began to relax.

Ed closed his eyes and to a few breaths, his head hanging slightly limp. Roy noticed Eds hands were shaking extremely badly. He continued rubbing circles in his back, going to sit beside the boy on the couch instead of continuing to kneel on the ground, his knees were hurting.

"Feel better?" asked Roy. Ed nodded, "I guess . . . but my hands are still gross."

"Well why don't you go wash them off."

Ed looked hesitant. "What is it?" asked Roy.

"I would . . . but I don't think I can stand up. . ."

Roy stood up and knelt back down beside Ed, extending an arm to the boy. It took Ed a minute, but he finally understood what Roy was doing and he shifted his body so he could grab onto Roys neck. Roy picked the small boy up with ease and brought him into the kitchen, sitting him on the counter. Roy was thankful he was so small, he could be easily carried around and such, but he was slightly worried about how thin Edward was looking. He knew he had to figure out a way for Ed to eat soon or he would be taking the small boy to the hospital.

Roy reached into the top cupboard above the sink and pulled out a first aid kit. Handing Ed some antiseptic wipes he said, "Here, use this to clean your hands."

It took Ed a minute to respond, he looked half asleep and so sick, but he took the wipes and began cleaning his shaking hands. Roy wet a cloth and began to wipe off Ed's sticky face and clean up his sick plastered bangs. It would be easier if he just did it himself. At the rate Ed was cleaning his hands, if Roy had let him clean his face and hair as well; Ed might never leave the kitchen. But, Ed was so sick; he didn't seem to mind Roy doing it for him. When Roy had finished, he took the wipe from Ed and threw it in the trash can and placed the wet cloth in the sink.

"Okay Ed, come on let's get you back to . . . hey. What's the matter?" asked Roy, now looking at Ed's face. His brow was furrowed and he looked as if he was about to break down. He was holding his breath again.

"Ed," Roy tried again, "What's wrong."

Roy saw Ed's lip quiver. "No . . . it's stupid."

Roy looked at him quizzically. "Well tell me what it is and I'll judge if it is stupid or not."

Ed's breathe hitched, "I'm just . . . so tired!" Ed suddenly broke down, burying his head in his hands. His shoulders heaved as he sobbed. Roy looked at the boy with sad eyes. He really was exhausted. Ed would have never broken down because of something so trivial on a usual day. But then again, this really wasn't a usual day. But he couldn't blame the boy. He would be frustrated too if he had spent all night leaning over a toilet than in a soft bed.

"I'm just so sick of this!"

Roy put a hand on his shoulder. Something in his gut told him still, Ed wouldn't just complain. There was something else bothering him. "Ed, I know that's not all. What's going on?"

Ed removed his hands from his face. ". . .." He didn't say anything, tears still streaming down his flushed cheeks.

"Ed?" asked Roy.

Ed waited before responding. "It's everything . . . I'm sick of getting up early and going to work somewhere I don't really even want to be. I'm sick of sitting in a dark room for hours and hours whenever I get home looking for someway to restore my body and Al's. I'm sick of never getting any sleep. . . And I'm sick of knowing Al can't get any sleep or enjoy food or enjoy the touch of people who care . . . and I'm sick of hearing Al's small cried every night from across the hallway because he scared!"

Ed allowed the tears to flow freely down his face. He had no idea why he just said all that. Maybe he was just too sick and couldn't think clearly. He would have never said any of those things to anyone on a regular day. But . . . for some reason. He felt safe her. Safe enough to breakdown his wall and allow Roy to see what he really was; scared. Lonely, and hurting. More sobs consumed him as the things he had just said festered in his mind, growing more and more real. He could feel his hands begin shaking again. He clasped them tightly in his lap trying to stop them. He shook his head, trying to clear it as more sobs wracked his body.

". . . I'm so scared. . ."

Roy felt his heart snap in two. "Edward." He said, pulling the small boy towards him. Ed fell forward, clutching Roy's shirt with his hands. Roy could feel the small boys' hands shake and he held him close rubbing his back and stroking his hair gently. He had seen Hughes do this with hi daughter when she cried and it seemed to calm her down . . . so wouldn't it work on Ed? He thought it would be awkward, but it wasn't. It actually felt pretty normal. His want to protect him, not just him, Al too. It killed him to see Ed like this. Like he truly was. He was just a kid who had to grow up to fast.

"Edward, calm down. Everything's going to be fine. I've got you, it's alright." Ed just started crying harder, but Roy was patient. He just held the boy gently soothing him with gentle words. "Edward, it's alright. I've got you." Ed continued to cry.

". . . T-that's what she used to say. "I've g-got you." Ed buried his face in Roy's shirt trying to stop the tears again.

"It's okay Ed. You can cry for her."

More tears shook Ed's body, followed by a painful sounding coughing fit. He cried and cried hard, he hadn't done so since the night he almost lost Al . . . They just stayed there for a while; Roy wasn't sure how much time had past, when he heard the click of the deadbolt unlock. The sound of heels clicking against the floor made Roy look up, but Ed didn't seem to notice, he still had his face buried.

Roy saw Riza make her way into the living room. She wasn't dressed in her military uniform anymore. She wore a white collared blouse and a black skirt that hugged her curves and showed her toned legs. Riza's hair was also let down, something she never did in work. Roy had to say, it did look better this way, he made a mental note to convince her to keep it down sometimes. Roy felt a blush coming, and he looked away quickly, focusing his attention back on Ed. Roy had no idea that she actually looked so . . . beautiful under that big military uniform.

When he was sure his blush had subsided, he looked back over at her, trying to catch her eye. It worked. She began to walk over to him, but her heels were making loud clocking noises and he didn't want Ed to be disturbed. He needed time to cry and he was afraid if he saw Riza, he would quickly build up his wall again just as fast as it had been torn down. Roy put a finger to his mouth, signaling for Riza to be quiet.

The lieutenant understood and quietly slipped off her shoes, setting them down by the couch. Quietly, she padded over so she was standing a bit close to Roy, but just out of Eds line of vision.

"Is he alright?" she mouthed to him.

Roy just shook his head. "He will be." He mouthed back.

Ed suddenly shifted on the counter, still crying, but not as loud. ". . . R-Roy?" he asked meekly.

"What is it?" asked Roy, looking down at the small boy. Ed wasn't looking at him, his face still buried in Roy's shirt.

". . . Promise . . . you won't leave . . . like he did."

Roy was slightly surprised, but he allowed himself to smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Ed. You always have a home here. You and your brother."

He felt Eds hands tighten on his shirt as his voice became restricted when he spoke. "T-thank you . . ."

Riza smiled. Well would you look at that, she thought, even a hard headed Colonial like him has a heart softer than anyone I know.

Okay, so I know I said that this was just going to be a one shot, but I changed my mind ah-ah. Sorry if Ed or Roy were a bit out of character ha-ha, I tried okay so I think there might be a few more chapters. Please keep reading!